Coating machine



Jii ne 26, 1 923.

F. H. WOOLF COATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

ZZZl/WWZZZT H, WOOL COATING MACHINE Fin June 2 1923.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 3, 1920 Patented June 26, 1923.

PATENT orrics.

FRANK H. WOOLF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ooarrne acrame.

Application filed February 3, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. WooLr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in a Coating Machine, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to that general class of devices known as coating machines for covering confections, nuts, or other articles, with chocolate or the like. The invention has among its objects the production of a simple, compact, convenient, durable, efficient, and reliable device of the kind de-.

scribed, wherein the articles to be coated are suitably separately coated and thereafter discharged, ready for packing and shipment if desired. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the preferred type of machine, and j Figure 2 is substantially a vertical section through a portion of the same, enlarged to more clearly show the construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a frame of the desired size, style and material provided with suitable substantially parallel and vertical side members, 2, and 3, at their tops, adapted to form the side walls of an inclosure or casing. A plurality of rolls 4, 6, 8 and 10 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the side members 2 and 3 respectively. There is also provided a plurality of bars 5, 7 and 9, or the equivalent, which are carried by the side members. The bars or the rolls may be fixed or adjustable if desired. Ordinarily I prefer-to make the bearings for roll 4 fixed and make the bearings for the rolls 6 and 8 vertically adjustable. It is considered unnecessary to describe the adjustable bearings in detail, as this may be of any of the well known types. The bars 5, 7 and 9 may be made so that they maybe adjusted substantially horizontally. I have shown adjusting bolts46 and 47 for bars 7 and 9 respectively. A reticu- Serial No. 355,996.

lated belt 11, or carrier, preferably formed of woven wire or the equivalent, is mounted upon the roll 4: and bar 5 and arranged to be driven by the roll, the same serving as a conveying belt. Similar belts or carriers 12 and 13 are mounted on roll 6 and bar 7 and roll 8 and bar 9 respectively. The articles to be coated may be discharged or placed on the belt 11 in any desired manner. For purposes of illustration, I have shown movable members 16. These, however, form no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail herein.

Any suitable means may be provided for coating the articles carried by the belt 11. As shown, 17 is a container adjustably carried on the brackets 18, the container having an open side provided with an adjustable wall 19, which is preferably hinged as at 20. The container may be moved or adjusted backward or forward over the belt 11 and it so desired, may be held in its adjusted position on the guides 18 by suitable bolts 72 or the like. The position of the wall 19 is regulated by the desired number of adjustable bolts or screws 22, carried in bar 21, extending across the machine, or by equivalent means for the purpose. The weight of the contained material tends to move the side or wall 19 to its open position so that the coating material will be discharged as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. In the construction shown, I provide a tank or container 26, which may be supported upon the frame 1 of the machine and which preferably has a jacket 27 so as to provide aspace 28ior containing hot water, steam, or other suit able medium for controlling the temperature 7 oi? the material in the tank. A pipe 23, connected with pipe 23, communicating with the tank, is arranged to discharge the coating material into the receptacle 17 the same being-elevated by means of pump P, shown in Figure 1, or the equivalent means for the purpose. The pipe 23 is preferably provided with a discharge pipe 24 extending above the receptacle 17 and having openings 25 through which the material flows into the receptacle 17, from whence it is discharged to coat the articles carried by belt 11. Ar-

ranged at the end of the belt 11, adjacent the belt 12, is a plate or apron 31, or its equivalent, which extends across the machine and is preferably adjustably, as shown pivotally, supported on a rod or bar 32. Any suitable means may be provided for controlling the position of the apron 31, that shown consisting of a rock shaft 33, having canis thereon adapted to engage the apron, the shaft being controlled by an arm or its equivalent, extending to a convenient point for operating, for example, to the exterior of the side wall 3or'2, as may be desired. I also provide an apron arranged below the upper portion of belt 11, the same being supported at 36 and arranged to be controlled by a shaft 37, cams 38 and operating handle 39 or equivalent means for the purpose. A similar apron 11 may also be provided for the belt 12. As shown, this is adjustably supported at 42 and controlled by shaft 43, cams 15 and operating arm 44-. The tension on the belts 12 and 13 may be controlled by the adjusting screws 16 and 1-7, or equivalent means for the purpose, it being preferred to keep these belts tightened sufficiently so that they do not sag to any extent under the weight of the articles carried thereby. I have shown abelt 18 arranged over a roll 49 and upon which material from belt 13 is discharged. In the particular construction shown, belt 48 extends to a desired point sufficiently far from the machine to permit the coating to harden and if desired, which is generally the case, the same may extend through a cold or refrigerating chamber to facilitate the hardening and improve the product. At the extreme end of belt 48 which, as mentioned, may be of the desired length or be supplemented by cooperating belts, I provide a discharge belt 51 arranged adjacent the packing table 52.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for driving the several belts and other parts. In Figure 1, I have shown a series of sprockets and chains by means of which power is transmitted from a driving belt 55, or the equivalent, to a driving belt 541, which drives sprockets 56 and 56 on shaft 53, which is arranged to drive the roll or pulley 4. Roll or pulley 6 is driven by sprocket 58 and chain 57 and roll or pulley 8 through shaft 61 from pulley 62 and chain 60. Roll 10 connected with shaft 66, is driven from shaft 61 through sprocket 63 and chain 64L and roll 49, which is connected with shaft 68 from chain 67 through sprocket 71. This is also arranged to drive sprocket 53, which, in turn, may drive chains 69 and 70 through suitable sprocket mechanism and move the various carriers.

In operation the articles to be coated are placed or discharged on the comparatively slow moving belt 11 which carries them through the coating material discharged from the tank 17, the material spreading on the belt 11 the apron 35 being adjustable for regulating the amount of material passing through the reticulated belt 11. The coated articles are discharged onto apron 31 and from thence on to the belt 12, apron 41 confluid, but flows slowly, owing to its thickness 2 or consistency. When the apron is depressed, the flow of the material and articles down the apron seems to be accelerated, resulting in a thinner coat. As the articles are carried on the belt 12, a portion of the coating material may flow through the belt and back into the container 26, the thickness on the bottom of the articles being regulated to a large extent by the apron 41. After passing along on the belt 12, which moves at a somewhat greater speed than the belt 11, the same passes over the rotating shaft or bar 10 and so upon the belt 13. The roll or shaft 10 travels at a greater surface speed than the belt, so that the same are to some extent thrown on the belt 13, which in turn moves somewhat faster thanbelt 12. The roll 10, traveling at a surface speed faster than the belt 12 and being above the belt 13, engages the coated articles, whereby it draws the coating into a ridge at the line of contact therewith and strings it out as it throws the articles onto the belt 13, thus producing what may b termed a string of coating on the articles, giving the same appearance tothem as if they had been hand-dipped. After passing on the belt or carrier 13, the same are carried along and discharged on the belt 48 and carried to the discharging end or adj acent table 52. Any surplus material from the belt 13 may flow into the receptacle 50,

which may be piped back into the receptacle or tank 26 inany suitable manner. The machine described efliciently and evenly coats the articles and may be adjusted'to give just the coating desired. The same operates and produces a machine coated article resembling the hand-dipped article, thereby adding to the attractiveness of the product, but reducing the cost of manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be mad in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coating machine, a receptacle ex-' longitudinally of said machine, in combination with a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier roller traveling at a higher speed than said second carrier at the discharge end thereof and adapted to receive the coated articles therefrom and a third carrier extending from below said second carrier and roller, and means for driving said carriers.

2. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coatin material from said receptacle, means for a justab-ly supporting said receptacle longitudinally of said machine, in combination with a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, a roll arranged at the end of the second carrier and a third carrier extending from below said second carrier and roll and arranged to receive the material from said roll and second carrier, and means for driving said carriers and roll.

3. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, in

combination with a reticulated carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle and a second carrier'ex tending from below said first carrier longitudim lly of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, a rotatable member arranged at the discharge end of the second carrier substantially flush with the top face thereof, and means for receiving the material discharged over said member.

4:. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, in combination with a reticulated carrier extending longitudinally of said machine be low said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, a rotatable member arranged at the discharge end of the second carrier substantially flush with the top face thereof, and means for receiying the material discharged over said member, means for driving said carriers and member at different speeds.

, 5. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said 'machine having a slot adjacent in its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, in combination with a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle, an apron arranged below the top side of the carrier and a second carrier extending from below said' first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, an apron arranged below the top side of the second carrier, a receiving carrier, means at the end of said second carrier for distributing articles discharged from said second carrier.

6. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said. machine having a slot adjacent in its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, in

combination with a carrier extending longitudinally ofl'said machine below said re.-

ceptacle, an adjustable apron arranged bea low the top side of the carrier and an apron arranged at the discharge end of said first carrier, a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, an adjustable apron arranged below the top side of the second carrier, a receiving carrier, means at the end of said second carrier for distributing articles discharged from said second carrier.

7. In a coating'machine-of the kind de scribed and in combination, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for dis-' charging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, a carrier extending longitudinally below said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive ma terial from said first carrier, a roller positioned near the end of the first carrier and means for rotating said roller at a surface speed greater than said carrier for distributing articles upon said second carrier and means for adjusting said carriers to control the distance between said carriers.

8. In a coating machine and in combination, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle, a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinallyv of said machine and adapted to receive material therefrom, and means mounted below the carrying surface of said carriers for adjustably controlling the amount of coating material upon the surfaces thereof.

9. In a coating machine and in combination, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom, for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, a carrier extending longitudinallyof said machine below said r'eceptacle, an apron arranged at the discharge end of said carrier, a second carrier extending from below said first car ier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said apron, an apron mounted below the carrying surface of said carriers for controllingthe amount of coating material upon the surfaces thereof, and means for adjusting said second apron to control the discharge of material thereover.

10. In acoating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot in its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle,'in combination with a carrier extending longitudinally .of said machine below said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, an apron adjustablyv mountedbelow the carrying surfaces'of said carriers for adjustably controlling the amount of coating material upon said surface and means for adjusting said second carrier to control the distancebetween said carriers.

11. In a coating machine, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot in its bottom for discharging a substantially uniform curtain of coating ma terial from said receptacle, in combination with a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle, means for placing articles upon said carrier and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier and means independently of said discharge slot for adj ustably controlling the amount of coating material on said carriers.

12. In a coating machine and in combination, a receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot in its side adjacent its bottom for discharginga substantially uniform curtain of coating material from said receptacle, means for controllingthe width of said slot, means for adjustably supporting said receptacle, a carrier extending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, means mounted below the carrying surface of said carriers for adjustably controlling the amount of coating material upon the surfaces thereof and means for controlling the material on said'carriers.

13. In a coating machine and in combination, receptacle extending transversely across said machine having a slot adjacent its bottom for discharging a substantially uniformcurtain of coating material from said receptacle, means for controlling the width of said opening, means for adjustably supporting said receptcle longitudinally of said machine, a carrier exending longitudinally of said machine below said receptacle, means for placing articles upon said carrier and a second carrier extending from below said first carrier longitudinally of said machine and adapted to receive material from said first carrier, means at the end of said second carrier for distributing articles discharged from said second carrier and means for drivingsaid carriers and distributing means at predetermined rela tive speeds.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK n. WOOLF.

lVitnesses:

ROY W.. HILL. BERTHA HARTMANN.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,460,189, granted June 26, 1923, upon the application of Frank H. W oolf, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Coating Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 12, after the Word carrier insert a comma, and insert the article a before the Word roller and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of August, A. D., 1923.

v [snub] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

